UNC Greensboro’s Distinguished Service Awards, the most prestigious honors conferred by the University, were presented March 11 by the Board of Trustees.
Linda Carlisle ’72 was presented with the McIver Medal. The businesswoman, community volunteer, and leader served as secretary of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources from 2009 to 2013 and worked to enhance understanding of the role of the arts in creating a dynamic environment for economic development. In 2012, she was appointed to the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. Her extensive community service includes service on the UNCG Board of Trustees, in addition to boards of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, and the NC Education Lottery Commission.
The Holderness/Weaver Award was given to Ed Kitchen, vice president and chief operating officer of the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation. The founding chair of Gateway Research Park, he also was a leader of the funding, design, and development of the Union Square Campus. His work at the foundation follows a three-decade career with the City of Greensboro that included 10 years as city manager. He fostered the city’s financial security, advanced the revitalization of Downtown GSO, and implemented the city’s first comprehensive plan for growth management.
At the ceremony, UNCG Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr., said, “Both award recipients have honored the past, cultivated strong visions of a bright future, and worked hard to make those visions a reality. That’s an amazing legacy.”
He added, “Our University has long been a force in helping individuals turn their potential into real-world success. When our students transform themselves and achieve excellence, they bring success to their local communities, their state, and their nation.”
These awards have a storied history. The Charles Duncan McIver Medal, named for UNCG’s founding president, is the University’s highest honor and recognizes extraordinary contributions and service to the state or nation. The Holderness/Weaver Award is named for Adelaide Fortune Holderness ’34, the first woman to serve on UNCG’s Board of Trustees, and H. Michael Weaver, Greensboro businessman and UNCG honorary degree recipient. The award recognizes exceptional service to the Greensboro/Triad community.
“These prestigious awards are reserved for inspiring people who have dedicated their lives and careers to our institution’s highest calling: service in all its forms,” said George Hoyle ’90, chair of the UNCG Board of Trustees. “We are honored to recognize these exceptional individuals who have served their communities, their home state, and our University in such generous ways.”
Learn more at go.uncg.edu/DSA2025.